There was a shortage of neither drama nor goals in the Ulster Junior Shield games played this weekend.
Here’s a roundup of all the action…
Arranmore United 2 Culdaff F.C. 1
Arranmore welcomed Culdaff to the Island for this Ulster Junior Shield tie and the home team ran out 2-1 winners after coming from behind.
Culdaff took the lead when a free kick from 30 yards took a deflection off a home defender and found the roof of the net out of the reach of the home keeper. It remained 0-1 until the break.
Arranmore came out with much more intent in the second half and with the introduction of Aidan Proctor and Sean McCauley the pressure told as Gavin McGlanaghey did well to control a long ball from the back and find the far corner to make it 1-1.
Aidan Proctor was a constant menace and went close on one or two occasions then in the 80th minute McGlanaghey found the net again following brilliant build up play from Sean McCauley and Gary Heaney.
Referee: Barry Hunter.
Dunlewey Celtic 0 Milford United Reserves 4
Very wintery conditions in Glentornan Park for this Ulster Junior Shield clash. The visitors took the initiative and went 1 up after Ciaran Blaney opened the scoring with a neat finish. Shortly afterwards Milford went 2 up when Blaney got on the end of a low driven cross to tap the ball home for his second. The second half started with both teams creating chances but it was Milford who added another 2 goals through Ryan Flood and Ciaran Blaney who completed his hat-trick with another neat finish.
Glencar Celtic 4 Raphoe Town 1
An excellent team performance from Glencar as goals from Shane Hilley, Joe Baker and Odhran Barron saw them race in to a deserved three-goal first half lead in breezy Rathmullan.
Hilley added his second late in the second half with a sweet left footed finish to make it four.
The makeshift Glencar defence were solid throughout and held firm until a late penalty call allowed Raphoe bag a consolation. Team performances from both sides.
Oldtown Celtic 4 Strand Rovers 1
This Ulster Junior Shield game was played at Letterkenny Community Centre on a cold but dry day.
Both teams started brightly and created chances but it was Oldtown who got the opening goal after good work from Krissi McLaughlin setting up his brother Paddy who finished from inside the box.
Strand to their credit came right back and equalised when Dylan Boyle scored after beating his man and shooting from the edge of the box.
The first half finished level.
The second half started much the same as the first with both team having chances. Luke Friel put Oldtown ahead with a cracking shot from about 30 yards which gave the strand keeper no chance.
The game’s third goal arrived shortly afterwards again through Luke Friel with nearly an identical shot.
Strand could have pulled one back only for great goal-keeping from Tomas McLaughlin in the Oldtown goal.
The game as a contest was over after newly introduced sub Micheal Mongan scored Oldtown’s fourth after beating his marker and hitting a shot from the edge of the box which gave the Strand keeper no chance.
Best for Oldtown Luke Friel, Krissi McLaughlin and Mickey Hawe with a team effort from Strand.
Referee: Colm McConigley
Kildrum Tigers Reserves 1 Cockhill Celtic Youths 3
Cockhill Celtic Youth had to battle back from conceding an early goal to advance to the next round of the Ulster Junior Shield at Station Road Park, St Johnston .
The visitors never got going at the start and found themselves a goal down on 5 minutes when a free into the box by Packie Coll, brother of Finn Harps Ciaran, was not cleared and ‘Square’ McNulty prodded home the loose ball from inside the six yard box.
The home side kept the pressure up early on aided by Cockhill’s ill discipline giving away needless frees in dangerous areas.
Cockhill did weather the storm, for want of a better word, and got back on terms on the half hour when Michael Noone placed the ball past James McNulty after a free from Ronan McLaughlin was not cleared.
Cockhill went ahead on 35 minutes when captain Shaun Donaghey converted a penalty after a hand ball inside the area.
The visitors increased their lead on 50 minutes when Jack McDaid raced clear to round the keeper and pass the ball into the empty net from inside the six yard box. Kildrum tried everything to get back into the game but had very little up front and created nothing of note relying too much on the odd free into the area.
Cockhill should have had a few late goals but all too often their players got themselves caught for off-side.
Sporting Ballyjamesduff 0 Glenea United Reserves 1
Glenea United Reserves visited Sporting Ballyjamesduff for this Ulster Junior Shield fixture. The Glasserchoo men took a first half lead but had to work hard for it.
Despite coming under fierce pressure from their hosts in the second half, John Ferry’s side held on and their name will be in the hat for the next Round of this competition.
Curragh Athletic 2 Illies Celtic Reserves 0
The game started at a very hight tempo with Curragh pushing hard to get the opening goal and it came on 15 minutes following some great work down the right by Callum Gordon and Gavin Sweeney who pulled the ball back to the in-rushing Tim Callahan who made no mistake.
Curragh pushed for the second and it came on the half hour when Gordon was upended in the box and for the second game in a row the veteran Gary Doherty slotted the ball home.
The second half saw Illies push hard for a goal but found the Curragh defence very strong with Mickey O’Brien marshalling well.
A few half chances fell to James Sweeney and Barney Lafferty but it finished 2-0 with Callum Gordon having a superb game. Team effort from Illies.
Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 3 Cavan Town Reserves 0
(No Report Submitted)
Rasheny F.C. Reserves 3 Whitestrand United 2
Whitestrand were first to show after only three minutes when Michael Herrity’s free was headed across goal by Ronan Morris but there was no one there to take advantage.
Rasheney responded with Tyler McBride seeing a shot deflected wide before Declan McLaughlin raced clear but dragged his effort wide with only the keeper to beat. Liam O Riordan then had an effort saved by Kieran Friel in the home goal.
The visitors opened the scoring on 21minutes after a looping cross from Morris found the unmarked Shane McGlade to sidefoot home.
Kevin Loughery then fired an effort just over the bar before Rasheney’s Damien Friel fired straight at Paddy Kelly in the Whitestrand goal.
The visitors made it two nil before half time after good work by James Kerr ended with his cross headed home by McGlade from eight yards.
Rasheney started the second half well and when John McLaughlin got on the end of Damien Friel’s cross he should have done better than flick the ball straight into Kelly’s arms.
McLaughlin then converted a penalty after Aaron Harkin had been upended before the same player equalised when he drifted in behind the visitors defence to sidefoot home a Charlie Doherty free on 78 minutes.
Rasheney completed a superb turnaround on 84 minutes when Friel launched the ball into the area from half way where with his first touch substitute Christy Ivers curled the ball into the bottom corner.
Clonmany Shamrocks Reserves 0 Glenree United 3
(No Report Available)
Redcastle Res 4 QPS Res 3
Redcastle Reserves progressed to the next round of the Ulster Junior Shield with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Quigley’s Point Swifts Reserves in Muff.
In an action-packed first-half, the visitors brilliantly took the lead after just four minutes when defender Garry Kelly collected the ball 25 yards out from a clearance before unleashing an unstoppable right-footed strike into the top left corner.
Their lead only lasted five minutes however. Swifts midfielder Josh McLaughlin made a great drive down the right flank, and his low cross was met by Ronan Lafferty who finished well past Ryan McColl.
Redcastle were presented with a great opportunity to score a minute later but Cathal Crumlish failed to trouble keeper David Bell when well placed from eight yards out. However, on sixteen minutes, they regained the lead when Terry McColgan was able to beat his marker before rolling the ball past Bell into the bottom right corner.
Six minutes later, Redcastle furthered their advantage when McColgan led a counter-attack down the right before squaring the ball to an unmarked Alan Clarke in the box who finished clinically from ten yards.
The game continued to be played at a high pace. Sean McColgan was unlucky for the hosts, his glancing header drifting just wide after a cross from Paul Grant.
On 37 minutes, the Swifts reduced the arrears to one when Jack McConnellogue made a run into the box and his low effort crept inside the bottom left post. Kelly almost added his second for the visitors two minutes later but his header from a corner went wide.
Quigley’s Point started the second half stronger, with substitute Joe Johnson forcing a great save from McColl after being played through on goal.
The contest was levelled on fifty-five minutes when McConnellogue blasted home his second of the afternoon from the penalty spot after Johnson was fouled in the Redcastle penalty area.
The pace of the game dropped with both sides battling hard for possession but unable to create any clear chances.
However, on seventy-seven minutes, the Swifts missed a glorious chance to take the lead. Johnson showed good feet and pace to get to the Redcastle byline, and his squared ball across goal was cleared off the line to Josh McLaughlin, but the young midfielder’s goal-bound effort from eight yards was cleared off the line again from some brilliant last-ditch Redcastle defending.
Two minutes later, Redcastle missed their own glorious chance to go ahead. Clarke broke the offside trap, finding himself one-on-one with Bell but the Point keeper made an excellent save. The rebound fell to Rhys Davenport who swept the ball goal-wards but was denied by a superb clearance off the line.
The game seemed destined for extra-time when Redcastle were awarded a penalty with one minute remaining after Crumlish was fouled in the box. Terry McColgan stepped up and dutifully dispatched the penalty into the top-right corner for his second goal of the afternoon, sending Redcastle into the next round of the cup.
Greencastle Res 4 Dunree United 1
This result was something of a surprise but was totally deserved as the home side shocked their first division visitors.
They started well with Adam Harkin seeing an effort blocked before Kevin McLaughlin fired just over.
Dunree responded and when Bernie Doherty broke into the area Shaun Cavanagh was alert to clear the danger before Thomas Mulhern fired narrowly wide on 22minutes.
Greencastle broke the deadlock on 25 minutes when after a good build up Joe Doherty flicked the ball on for Adam Harkin to drill low past Philip Doherty from twelve yards.
Minutes later they doubled their lead after Doherty’s flick found Andrew Peoples who turned sharply and fired a powerful effort to the bottom corner. McLaughlin then broke clear of the Dunree defence but he fired over the bar from outside the box.
Dunree then had a good spell with Mulhern’s goalbound effort was cleared by Cavanagh before Liam Baldrick squared the ball across the face of goal but there were no takers.
On the stroke of half time the home side added a third when Tom Heuston rose high to head home Doherty’s inswinging corner.
In the opening period of the second half Doherty had one effort saved and failed to hit the target with another while at the other end Baldrick cut in and fired narrowly wide.
Greencastle added a fourth when Harkin flicked on to peoples who laid the ball back to substitute Gavin Rowan and he fired a stunning 25-yards effort to the top corner. Dunree kept trying and substitute Peter O’Neill fired just wide.
O’Neill then grabbed a late consolation when he controlled a ball over the top from Mulhern before firing low past Seamus Bovaird.
Gleneely Colts 0 Cockhill Res 1
Played in glorious conditions, Gleneely were quick out of the blocks when Nathan McLaughlin was played in by Billy McCann but his shot from the edge of the box was pushed away by Gary Robinson.
Gleneely had another chance on 20 minutes when a long throw on the right found Paul Gamble but his shot was easily saved. Cockhill mustered a chance 5 minutes later when a free was spilled by Adrian Duffy but Gary Breslins follow up slid wide of the post from six yards.
They had another chance before half time when a ball by Ryan McDaid across the box, but Gary Breslin hit the side netting when well placed.
Gleneely came out in the secnd half and had the first chance when Nathan McLaughlin was played through by Corey O’Brien, but Gary Robinson saved low to his right.
Cockhill went one up on 55 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a foul and up stepped Mark Gillespie to score straight down the middle.
They then should have went two up but Adrian Duffy saved from Gary Breslin after a mistake in the home defence. After that the home side piled on the pressure in the last 20 minutes with chances going abegging from Billy McCann, Nathan Mclaughlin and JJ Harley. Cockhill held out to advance to the next round.
Moville Celtic 4 Sea Rovers 3 (after extra time)
Rovers will feel be disappointed to lose in the last kick of the game after they led by three goals to one at one stage. Moville began well with Conor Doherty and Nathan Harkin both off target with efforts.
Rovers lost keeper Glen Watson to injury replaced by Graham Morgan before the home side took the lead on 27 minutes. Conor Lafferty laid the ball off on the edge of the area for Harkin to drill a low shot beyond Morgan.
A mix up in the home defence saw a defender slide in and divert the ball into his own net on 35 minutes.
Conor McGeoghaghan for rovers then went close with a good effort from distance before Rovers took the lead on the stroke of half time after Oisin McGonagle outpaced the home defence to drive low past Ryan Coyle.
Moville had the first chance of the second half but Harkin fired into the side netting . Rovers got on top and McGonagle poked one effort wide before rounding Coyle but seeing his effort cleared off the line by Ryan Killen.
Hesitation in the home defence allowed Keelan Doherty to head home and make it three one on 67 minutes. Moville rallied and got a goal back after Finn McLaughlin played a one two with Lafferty inside the area and fired low past Morgan.
Conor Doherty then fired wide as Moville upped the tempo.
They equalised on 78 minutes when Shane Canning fed Doherty on the left hand side of the area and he fired a crisp low effort into the bottom corner.
Rovers tried to get back and Damien Ward sent a free kick inches past the post with Coyle stranded. Moville then had McLaughlin red carded for a second caution before Ward had another free brilliantly tipped over by Coyle.
In extra time Ryan McColgan shot wide for the home side while at the other end Evan McLaughlin was well placed inside the area but hesitated and was crowded out.
Late in the second period Canning’s ball over the top found Antonio Rea but his header lacked the power to beat Morgan.
Then in the final minute with rovers appealing in vain for offside Harkin raced clear and squared the ball for Rea to slot home.
Aileach Res 1 QPS 3
The game was only 10 minutes old when Aileach opened the scoring after Seamus O Donnell advanced from midfield and squared the ball for Jordan McGeady to fire home from 20 yards.
Quigleys Point were back on level terms five minutes later when Stephen Harley intercepted a pass in midfield and played in John Mc Closkey to slot passed the advancing Bradley.
The Point took the lead on the half hour when Sean Downey slid the ball through to the dangerous McCloskey who again finished low to the bottom corner.
Aileach almost equalised on the stroke of half-time but Stephen Dohertys shot was cleared of the line by a defender.
The second half was dull affair with both defences on top.
Bradley Callaghan almost extended the point’s lead but Connor Bradley deflected his effort wide for a corner.
On 85 minutes Quigleys point made sure they advanced to the next round when substitute Caolan Mc Colgan fired a shot to the top left corner from twenty yards.
Rasheney Res 2 Glengad Res 9
Played on Friday night the visitors opened the scoring in the first minute after a Paul McGonagle cross found PJ McDaid to side foot home.
But the home side levelled midway through the half after a Nathan McConalogue strike crept inside the post. Kevin Noone then fired the home side ahead when he scored after a scramble in the area.
But before the break Glengad equalised after Gary Kelly slotted home after a corner.
But Glengad dominated the second half totally and blitzed the home side with four goals in ten minutes from Niall McColgan, PJ McDaid, John McDaid and Gary Kelly.
Kelly then completed his hat trick with a stunning 30-yards effort to the top corner. Brian and Joe Doherty added two late strikes to complete the round.
ULSTER JUNIOR SHIELD
Arranmore United 2 Culdaff F.C. 1
Dunlewey Celtic 0 Milford United Reserves 4
Glencar Celtic 4 Raphoe Town 1
Oldtown Celtic 4 Strand Rovers 1
Kildrum Tigers Reserves 1 Cockhill Celtic Youths 3
Sporting Ballyjamesduff 0 Glenea United Reserves 1
Curragh Athletic 2 Illies Celtic Reserves 0
Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 3 Cavan Town Reserves 0
Rasheny F.C. Reserves 3 Whitestrand United 2
Clonmany Shamrocks Reserves 0 Glenree United 3
Moville Celtic 4 Sea Rovers 3 (AET)
Clonmany Res 0 Glenree United 3
Aileach Res 1 QPS 3
Rasheney Res 2 Glengad Res 9
Greencastle Res 4 Dunree United 1
Redcastle Res 4 QPS Res 3
Gleneely Colts 0 Cockhill Res 1
